World Baseball Classic: Players Who Will Benefit Most with Strong Performances

A select few will benefit from securing their roster spots for this year’s World Baseball Classic, just two months away.

From salvaging careers to moving up the minor league ranks, the World Baseball Classic will be more than just an exhibition, and this year’s rosters will be some of the most competitive in the history of the tournament.

The following list analyzes players who have already committed to their respective countries’ rosters.

Here are the players who will benefit most with strong performances in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Francisco Lindor, Puerto Rico

The 19-year-old Francisco Lindor can really help his prospective stock with an impressive performance—offensively and defensively—in this year’s WBC.

Lindor was drafted eighth overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2011 MLB amateur draft and sits as the 37th highest-rated prospect by Baseball America, according to 2012 rankings.

Basically, this kid is good and should be on every fan’s radar heading into 2013.

Lindor, who played at the Single-A level for Cleveland last season, has a chance to move up the ranks, possibly earning a spot on Columbus Clippers for next season. Right now, offensively, his 2012 performance wasn’t enough to move him up the ranks after he hit just .257.

Lindor’s specialty is his plate discipline and defensive prowess, both of which need to be showcased in this year’s WBC.

David Wright, USA

Alex Trautwig/Getty ImagesMets third basemen David Wright.

It’s hard not to respect the loyalty David Wright has for the Mets organization, and vice versa.

Wright will benefit from playing third for the U.S. because it will give him exposure playing on a winning team. It’s no secret that the Mets will not only miss the playoffs, but likely end 2013 in the basement of MLB.

Wright, who was awarded a seven-year, $122 million contract this offseason, has secured his place as the face of the franchise.

Wright will play a major role for this U.S. team, and if he can produce, will lead the U.S. to its first WBC title.

Ryan Rowland-Smith, Australia

Ryan Rowland-Smith, 29, put up some decent numbers from 2007 to 2009 for the Seattle Mariners, but after a horrible season in 2010 he has yet to see a major league mound.

His struggles continued in 2011 for Triple-A Oklahoma City where he went 2-10 with a 6.19 ERA—similar numbers to his 2010 stint for the Mariners. Surprisingly, in 2012 for Triple-A Iowa, Rowland-Smith recorded an ERA of 3.94, including eight starts and a good amount of relief work

Smith is a free agent this offseason and has a real chance to secure a spot in a bullpen that needs some help (Colorado, Milwaukee, etc.).

Smith, who will likely start for team Australia, will need to pitch well if he has any hope of been signed this offseason.

Engel Beltre, Spain

Few players have been as stagnant in the minor leagues as Engel Beltre.

Beltre has spent the last three seasons in Double-A Frisco in the Texas Rangers organization, where he’s posted subpar numbers.

While the numbers aren’t there in terms of average, RBI and home runs, it’s his speed that makes Beltre such a valuable player.

Beltre, 23, needs to showcase his speed in the classic to have any chance at bumping up to Triple-A. If Beltre tears up the basepaths in this year’s WBC and goes without an error in the outfield, he has a shot at a late-season call-up as a utility man in 2013.

Chien-Ming Wang, Chinese Taipei

Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesFree-agent pitcher Chien-Ming Wang.

Chien-Ming Wang has never been the same dominant pitcher since injuring his foot in a game vs. the Astros in 2008.

The former 19-game winner has a lot to prove in this year’s WBC after five straight injury-plagued seasons. Wang, who’s now a 32-year-old free agent, has little chance of a team acquiring him this offseason.

That being said, with a few successful starts for Chinese Taipei, Wang could put himself back on the MLB map and draw interest.

Unless Wang can do something worthy of a contract, we won’t be seeing him in the majors in 2013.